The AU Museum at American University is launching five new contemporary art exhibitions on February 7, 2026. The shows include 'Humanist Touch: Works from the Weber Collection,' featuring over 80 works by primarily local DC artists, and 'Ilana Manolson: The Air We Share,' which focuses on paintings of weeds as a form of environmental advocacy. The exhibitions showcase a variety of mediums and will be on view through May 17, with an opening reception on February 7.
These exhibitions highlight the vibrancy of Washington, DC's local art scene and the role of collectors in supporting and documenting it. The 'Humanist Touch' show, drawn from the collection of Joan and Bruce Weber, underscores the importance of personal relationships between collectors and artists, while Manolson's work connects artistic practice to scientific observation and ecological awareness, inviting viewers to reconsider overlooked aspects of the natural world.